Planes Allegedly Sold Fraudulently Online

Filed in archive Aviation News on September 8, 2006

A former Florida county commissioner candidate who ran on a religious platform was arrested for selling dangerous and damaged aircraft over the Internet. Luke Frazier is accused of advertising and selling airplanes without disclosing that they had been exposed to corrosive saltwater.

The Saint Petersburg Times reported Frazier advertised the planes on eBay, Craig's List and barnstormers.com.He bought planes from insurance companies that had paid damage claims to the previous owners. Frazier bought 11 planes for about $100,000. Authorities say he then resold them fraudulently.

To Russell Ragan, Frazier said that the Cessna was damaged by a flood on a farm in Arkansas, reports said. He said the plane was sitting in freshwater, which is not nearly as harmful as saltwater.

To Donald Sipos, Frazier sold a Cessna without releasing the tail number until after he was paid. It turned out the plane was not airworthy, reports said. Sipos got a partial refund only after he contacted law enforcement.

Officials believe there are other people who may have purchased faulty planes from Frazier, including buyers from Alabama, Georgia and Virginia.